Xela Mariel in Delft, NL. Taken January 2025.
Xela Mariel is a graphic designer and problem-detangler living in Southern California. She has always enjoyed experimenting with color and type, but found graphic design through MiraCosta College in 2023. She now aims to experiment with color and type for a living, seeking ways to play with the grid through branding, layout, digital illustration, and book design. In 2024, Xela’s 36 Days of Type was featured in AIGA’s International Design Conference Design Showcase. In 2025, she led the creative direction for MiraCosta’s first Open Studios for its Media Arts & Technologies department.
Formerly an educator, Xela aims to bring her experience teaching into the collaborative process of design. She is dedicated to helping clients explore the artistic integrity of their brand and achieve their vision through close communication and attention to detail. She values the cyclical process of creation from research to delivery, and thrives when constructing strong, unique pieces that speak for themselves.
When she isn’t working, you can find Xela reading about books, running on the beach, or embroidering with her three cats.